Knee decisions — 2018

The Veteran's claims for service connection are remanded due to the need for additional examinations and medical opinions regarding his throat disorder, right foot injury residuals, skin disorders of the feet, lumbar spine disability, and bilateral knee disabilities.,Specifically, a new examination is needed to determine if the Veteran has any current residuals from his in-service right tonsil abscess and lymphadenopathy. The examiner should also provide an opinion on whether his current right ankle disability had its onset during service or is otherwise related to service.

The Veteran's left knee disability, characterized by instability, has been restored to a 10% evaluation. The appeal for an increased rating for right knee traumatic arthritis and internal derangement is denied.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's claims for service connection due to the need for additional medical examinations and consideration of outstanding VA treatment records.

The Board has remanded the case for a VA examination to determine if the Veteran's current diagnoses of right knee meniscal tear and lumbar spine degenerative disc disease are related to his service.

The Board has remanded the claims for left and right knee strain with meniscal tear due to outstanding records, including SSA and VA treatment records. The Veteran is also requested to provide authorization for private treatment records from his incarceration facility.

The Veteran is granted a TDIU rating from November 1, 2016 due to his service-connected disabilities. Prior to that date, the criteria for a TDIU were not met.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection due to insufficient evidence. The issues include left and right knee disabilities, residuals of a head injury, and an acquired psychiatric disorder (including PTSD).

The Veteran's appeals for increased ratings and service connection have been dismissed. New and material evidence has reopened claims for bilateral elbow disorder, acquired psychiatric disorder, neck disorder, and chronic sinusitis but the claims are denied on their merits.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings of his left knee and low back disabilities have been denied. The left knee disability is rated 30 percent prior to January 17, 2013 and in excess of 30 percent from March 1, 2014. The left knee subluxation claim has not met the criteria for a higher rating. The low back disability remains at 20 percent.

The Board has determined that the Veteran's service records from qualifying periods of Active Duty for Training (ACDUTRA) were not considered in the previous decision, and therefore remands are required to consider these periods.

The Veteran's combined disability rating of 40 percent from December 8, 2015 is correct. The appeal for service connection on the issues of left knee condition, right knee condition, left ankle condition, and right ankle condition is remanded.

The Board has granted service connection for tinnitus but has remanded the issue of service connection for a right knee condition due to insufficient evidence.

The Board has remanded several issues related to the Veteran's service-connected disabilities, including lumbar strain and myofascial pain, CRPS of the right hip, left knee and foot, right knee, and right ankle. The Veteran is unable to secure or follow substantially gainful employment due to his service-connected disabilities.

The Veteran's lumbar spine disability is rated at 40 percent effective August 15, 2014.,An initial rating of 10 percent for left knee osteoarthritis is granted effective June 2, 2015. The Veteran also received a separate compensable rating of 10 percent for radiculopathy of the sciatic nerve of the lower left extremity.

The Board has expanded the scope of the Veteran’s claims to encompass any knee or heart diagnosis raised by the record. The case is remanded for additional development, including obtaining medical records and opinions regarding the relationship between the Veteran's current diagnoses and service.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for right and left knee disabilities are denied, except that a separate 10% rating is granted for limited extension of the left knee.

The Veteran's petition to reopen his service connection claim for a left knee disability is granted. The Board finds new and material evidence in the form of medical treatise articles submitted by the Veteran's attorney, which supports a relationship between overuse injuries and arthritis development. As such, the claim for service connection for a left knee disability is reopened. However, the initial compensable rating for allergic rhinitis remains remanded due to worsening symptoms since the last VA examination.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for additional development, including VA examinations to determine the nature and etiology of various disabilities.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for his right shoulder and right knee disabilities are being remanded due to inadequate examination reports. The Board will schedule the Veteran for a VA examination in accordance with regulatory requirements.

The Veteran's claim for a rating in excess of 30 percent for his right knee condition was denied. The reduction from 40 to 30 percent was upheld. The Board also remanded the issues of service connection for bilateral pes planus and TDIU due to their interrelation.